New Delhi: Defending Commonwealth Games gold medalist Saina Nehwal on Thursday slammed the Badminton Association of India over the timing of selection trials for the major multi-sport events this year, alleging that the governing body doesn’t want her competing at Common Wealth Games and Asian Games. The governing body had called for selection trials on April 2nd to pick the Indian team for big-ticket events including the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the Asian Games in Hangzhou and Thomas Cup and Uber Cup in Bangkok from May 8th to 15th.
Former World No. 1 Saina said she had informed BAI about her decision to skip the trials which begins in New Delhi on Friday but it did not mean that she was not eager to participate in the major events including the Commonwealth Games and Asiad.
“Surprised to see all the articles stating that I don’t want to defend my CWG title and my Asiad medal. I’m just not participating in the trials because I just got back from 3 weeks of Europe events and according to the schedule there’s Asian Championships,” Saina tweeted. “In 2 weeks’ time, as a senior player to participate in back to back events nonstop is impossible and its risks injuries, such short notice is not possible. I’ve conveyed this to BAI but there has been no response from them. It seems like they’re happy to put me out of CWG n Asiad.”
Saina, 32, however, questioned the logic of having trials at this juncture. “I wish we had a better understanding of how to manage a schedule and not announce events with 10 days’ notice. I’m world no.23 currently and I almost beat the world no.1 Akane in All England. One loss at India open and BAI tries to pull me down. Shocking.” Saina, a London Olympics bronze medallist, had participated in the German Open (March 8-13), All England Championships (March 16-20) and Swiss Open (March 22-27) before pulling out of the Korean Open (April 5-10).